Sushi Taro

Address: 1503 17th St., NW, Washington, DC 20036

Phone: 202.462.8999

Neighborhood: Dupont Circle, Downtown

Cuisines: Seafood, Sushi, Japanese

Opening Hours: Open for lunch Monday through Friday 11:30 to 2, open for dinner Monday through Saturday 5:30 to 10. Closed Sunday.

Nearby Metro Stops: Dupont Circle, Farragut North

Price Range: Expensive

Noise Level: Chatty

Reservations: Recommended

Website: Click here to open in new window.

Best Dishes Marinated whole baby octopus; thin-sliced Kobe beef; nigiri of eel, yellowtail, sweet shrimp, and salmon; sashimi of uni, scallop, and o-toro black-sesame brûlée; house-made mochi.

Price Details: À la carte sushi $6 to $12, sashimi $15 to $22. Omakase menu $100 to $120, kaiseki menu $75, sushi tasting menu $75, sashimi tasting menu $65.

Hushed voices prevail inside Nobu Yamazaki’s dimly lit Japanese restaurant. Nigiri and sashimi are the best in town, and the maki creations are much more than a nod to American tastes: The winner is a habanero-scallop roll, in which the sweet mollusk contrasts gorgeously with searing pepper. Opt for a spot at the sushi bar to watch the day’s catch become expertly sliced by Yamazaki and his talented crew. Don’t miss: Agedashi tofu; seaweed salad; nigiri of spot prawns or yellowtail; sashimi of fatty tuna, uni, or wild horse mackerel; ramen, an occasional lunch special. Open: Monday through Friday for lunch and dinner, Saturday for dinner. Very expensive.